Zen and the art of receiver repair Part 2 (Digressions)

The experience is often worth more than the cost

There are lots of reasons to do things and often in the western world, that reason is to make a profit. We see things that cost/lose money as inherently bad and should be avoided. Many folks now days don't even have hobbies and many that do, stress about the time/money they are spending on it. Some of this is learned behavior and some of it is just old fashioned late stage capitalism. This essay will only focus on the former and avoid the latter's can of worms.

One might think my fascination with all things vintage receiver would focus on the big names like Sansui, Marantz and Pioneer. They are well known, lots of people have had them but because of that they tend to be pricey, even if not working. My experience with these is if they are "reasonably priced" there is some sort of issue. Some of these issues are easy to fix while others not so much (looking at you STK IC). Being more expensive also does not guarantee a working system. However, my focus has been more on the sleepers, brands like MCS (J.C Penny House Brand), Realistic (Radio Shack), and Toshiba. These are often harder to find and often in dubious condition. As most folks were not as careful with them as they would be with a "brand" name. These are good units that were made in Japan by the likes of Panasonic, Technics, Foster, Pioneer and NEC. So, they can often be found at a lower price and that leads directly to the experience is more important than the cost.

First, lets clear up what that phrase means from a capitalistic point of view. If I buy a receiver for 30, put 100 dollars into it and then sell for 50, I have made a huge mistake. Even if your goal is to break even, no one is going to pay 130 for a refurbished MCS receiver.

Thinking like this brings you to a full stop and you will end up missing the best parts of what you are trying accomplish. In this case it is learning how things work, using your hands, improving skills and most importantly enjoying yourself/community. For example, I get to do these restorations with a very good friend. This has led to very good conversations, good lunches and a strengthened relationship. If I had not focused on experienced, this endeavor would have been over before it began and I would be worse for it.

If one just focuses on cost or profit then life becomes more grey and more boring. A shift has to happen in which the individual can see the worth of the experience and how it often outweighs the cost. IE focus on the experience, the here and now. In this case, these soft returns mean spending $130 to refurb a MCS is a bargain.

Imperfection is the point

The other thing I have learned working with vintage electronics is that do not seek perfection. It is unobtainable and can lead to ruin. Instead find and appreciate the beauty in what you have accomplished. In the receiver world, this is knowing when to stop. An example, repairs are done and the receiver sounds wonderful. Hoever, you discover there are now some issues with the tuner and the repair is neither apparent or straight forward. You will never use the tuner and it will not cause deterioration elsewhere. Any effort you place here could backfire and even if it doesn't you won't actually appreciate the fix, as you will never use it. Instead, except the imperfection and that the beauty is really in how it sounds. I have taken that lesson and applied it elsewhere in my life and surprisingly there was a reduction in stress. I could just concentrate on the thing that gave me pleasure. Keeping me in the moment. The Japanese have a philosophy around this, Wabi Sabi. My version is very simplistic but can be universally applied.

You are never done and that is a good thing

I have said several times, "this is the last receiver we will repair" and every time I end up procuring another receiver to fix. Why is this? Because it isn't the device,it is trying new things or honing your skills. This is what keeps you going in life, new experiences and growth. When those cease, the monochrome world creeps in and tries to convince you that you are done. But there is always another receiver to listen to and fix...

Practical Matters

If you have read this far, you might be wondering what have Dave and I accomplished. Well, we have rescued at least four or five receivers from the landfill. The vast majority of these receivers needed extensive troubleshooting and soldering. Most of these devices have been sold for little or no profit. However, a few have been kept. Dave has the before mentioned Toshiba (this was a really involved repair but it sounds amazing) and I have kept both a Sansui and JVC. At this point, I have too many amps/receivers. Where does this go from here? I don't know but I am going to keep working at appreciating the journey, imperfection and friends. If I can do that, I can be rich in life and ensure there is color in my world.

Photo by Daniel De Los Santos of Igorr @ The Aztec in San Antonio, TX